By Clement Nwabuko
JOS (PRECISE POST) – The Plateau State Government says its ongoing free mega medical outreach, organised in collaboration with medical specialists from Germany, has treated more than 8,000 patients and facilitated about 360 surgical procedures across the state’s three senatorial zones.
The outreach, launched by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, is part of his administration’s efforts to expand access to quality healthcare through strategic investments and international partnerships.
The programme, which commenced on October 19 in designated health facilities across the Southern and Central senatorial zones before extending to the Northern zone on October 26, is providing free medical services to residents, particularly those unable to afford specialised healthcare.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Mutfwang described the initiative as an emotional moment, commending local health workers, volunteers and visiting medical specialists for their commitment to providing free healthcare services to the people.
He expressed appreciation to the German medical team for partnering with the state government to bring specialised medical services closer to underserved communities.
“On behalf of the beneficiaries of this programme, I want to say a very big thank you to the entire medical team. This show of love that you have demonstrated, God will reward you abundantly,” the governor said.
Mutfwang noted that his administration had continued to invest in healthcare infrastructure, personnel and medical equipment to strengthen the state’s healthcare delivery system, despite the challenges inherited by his government and competing development priorities.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening investment in the sector, declaring that Plateau State aspired to become a leading destination for medical services in Nigeria.
“Our dream, our desire, our vision is to even make Plateau State a health tourism destination in Nigeria,” he said.
Providing an update on the exercise, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed that the programme was initially projected to reach between 6,000 and 10,000 beneficiaries but had already attended to more than 8,000 people across the state.
According to him, more than 4,000 patients had received medical attention in the Southern zone, approximately 3,000 in the Central zone and over 1,000 in the Northern zone as of the time of the briefing.
Baamlong further revealed that the outreach had facilitated about 360 surgical procedures across various specialties, including 19 Caesarean deliveries and approximately 260 cataract surgeries. More than 1,500 pairs of eyeglasses had also been distributed to beneficiaries.
He added that dental services were ongoing, with 146 tooth extractions recorded at the Jos centre within the period under review. Patients were also being screened for specialised neurosurgical and orthopaedic procedures.
The commissioner said the intervention had particularly benefited residents of rural communities, many of whom travelled from their villages to access medical services that would otherwise have been financially out of reach.
He commended nearly 200 health workers involved in the exercise, including those who volunteered their professional services, as well as supporting organisations such as the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN).
Baamlong also thanked the governor for sustaining strategic investments in the health sector, noting that such interventions were critical to improving healthcare outcomes, reducing the financial burden of illness on families and strengthening access to essential medical services.
The collaboration with ICZ Germany medical specialists, according to the state government, underscores the importance of international partnerships in improving healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.
The government said the initiative was designed not only to provide immediate medical relief to residents but also to strengthen local healthcare capacity and support its long-term ambition of positioning Plateau State as an emerging centre for specialised medical services in Nigeria.
